The Region

Ninety-eight more cases of AIDS were reported in Los Angeles County last month, the Department of Health Services announced, bringing the total of local victims to 1,749. The number of deaths from acquired immune deficiency syndrome in the county stood at 978--about 56% of those afflicted. The number of new cases in April dropped from March, when 122 were reported, but Health Services spokeswoman Toby Milligan said the March figure was unusually high, simply because more staff had been added and "were able to clear up some of the backlog."